Where's my liverock going?

[N1Husker]

I keep looking at my live rock in my tank and it seems to be slowly disinegrating. I notice some of the holes getting larger. I read somewhere that this is natural as this is how it buffers the calcium or something like that. Is this normal, has anyone else notice this in their own aquarium. It is Indonesion Premium Live Rock from Vivid Aquariums in L.A.-Thanks

 

[dnjan]

It can happen naturally, but usually is quite slow. Possibly your Alk is a bit low ...

 

[N1Husker]

It is happening pretty slow, I just know that I see the holes getting larger, but not at a drastic rate. I just didn't know if it was normal. The alkalinty is at 8. Also if you add more live rock does that change your water parameters, such as producing ammonia?

 

[NC2WA]

if you add more live rock does that change your water parameters, such as producing ammonia

depends on how big your tank is, whether it is cured, and how much you are adding..

in your case, if LR is cured then adding 10-15 lbs is not going to hurt anything.

 

[N1Husker]

Kirk-I have a 36 gallon aquarium with about 30 pounds of live rock with a 10 gallon sump. Tanks been in operation since April 2011, live rock is all cured and so far the fish I have are all doing well. If I add another 5- 10 pounds will that be okay?

 

[NC2WA]

yes..provided it is cured..should be ok and little to no ammonia spike.

 

[dnjan]

It is happening pretty slow, I just know that I see the holes getting larger, but not at a drastic rate. I just didn't know if it was normal. The alkalinty is at 8. Also if you add more live rock does that change your water parameters, such as producing ammonia?

I hope it is your pH which you are reporting as 8 (which is possibly a bit low).
Your alkalinity will probably be in the low 3's.

 

[mcoomer]

Damn, you caught me. I was hoping that if I took it out slowly enough you wouldn't notice it missing. BTW...when are you going to be out of town next?

Mike

 

[N1Husker]

According to my test kit which is an API test kit it says that the carbonate hardness (also known as alkalinity) are typically between 8-12 dKH. That is what I was going by when I said it was at 8. Also I have a chart from Foster & Smith's that I downloaded and printed out and it also says alkalinity should be 8-12 dKH. I don't know what 3 is from, 3 what? My pH is at 8.2 according to my charts. I'm fairly new at this and I am going by what my readings say compared to the charts I have.

 

[oldsaint]

According to my test kit which is an API test kit it says that the carbonate hardness (also known as alkalinity) are typically between 8-12 dKH. That is what I was going by when I said it was at 8. Also I have a chart from Foster & Smith's that I downloaded and printed out and it also says alkalinity should be 8-12 dKH. I don't know what 3 is from, 3 what? My pH is at 8.2 according to my charts. I'm fairly new at this and I am going by what my readings say compared to the charts I have.

You're good with those numbers. There are different ways to meassure hardness/alkalinity, 2.5-4 meq/L, 7-11 dKH, 125-200 ppm.
I doubt you're seeing the rock actually disolve, although it can/does/will in our tanks. Especailly, if it fairly new and you have good numbers. I would think what you're noticing is the rock becoming clean. It can become coated with many things during cycling, algae, diatoms...etc. As it cures the rock will become cleaner looking and I can see how some of the pores could look larger.

 

[N1Husker]

That makes sense, I know that I look at some of the holes in the rock just seem larger now than when it was new in the tank. Everything seems to be healthy but I just noticed the rock looking different. Thanks

 

[dnjan]

Yes, I should have given units as well. I was thinking of the low 3's for meq's.
Still, if you tend to run on the lower end of typical (and also depending on other parameters in your tank), you can get some disolving of calcium carbonate.
My tank was that way for a while, and I was able to watch a 5" conch shell (put in as a hiding place for a shy fish) slowly disolve.

 

[TheKraken]

That makes sense, I know that I look at some of the holes in the rock just seem larger now than when it was new in the tank. Everything seems to be healthy but I just noticed the rock looking different. Thanks

Sadly this is just the onset of Multiple Tank Syndrome (MTS). For most it manifests as the perception that the tank is getting smaller (remember when it was too big to imagine (barely fit in the car!)) and now the tank looks, well, quaint. Typical warning signs are the adoption of ever bigger 4' tanks (55, 75, 120)...

 

[N1Husker]

Yeah, the bigger tank probably won't happen anytime soon, as I am restricted to tank size in my apartment. I can't have anything larger than a 50 gallon, since I live on the third floor and I also live right above the manager, moving up is not in the cards, but I'd love a bigger one. This is a size that I can handle as I am not a spring chicken anymore and my health is not primo, but I do okay and I like my tank. So it is what it is and I am enjoying my fish and coral. Thanks for everyone's help and info as I continue on. My fish and the rest of the critters give me a lot of joy. I'll see everyone at the March get together.